Part 8 (1/2)
”Why, what do you htly
”I think I saw Will give Grace a note this noon,” went on Amy ”Ah, secrets! And doesn't it happen that Will and Allen Washburn are quite chummy? If the initials AW aren't on that note, Betty--”
”Of course they're not! The idea! Allen Washburn needn't think--”
”Oh, I know he needn't send notes to you this way, but perhaps Will forgot to deliver it, and Grace just slipped it into your book, intending to tell you of it Ah, Betty!”
”Silly It isn't that at all See, I'll let you read the note”
Hastily Betty unfolded it There was but a single unsigned sheet of paper, and scrawled on it were these words:
”Before you go caton who her father and mother are”
CHAPTER V
AMY'S MYSTERY
Betty was quick to comprehend the cruel words, and in an instant she had crumpled the anonymous scrawl in her hand But she was the fraction of a second too late Ah, and then the catch in her breath
She turned quickly
”Amy!” cried Betty ”Did you see it? Oh, my dear! The meanness of it! The awful meanness! Oh, A couess!” faltered Amy
”Who?”
”Alice Jallow”
”The--the cat!”
Betty siain,” whispered Amy ”I didn't mean to read your note, Betty, but I saw it before I realized it”
”My note? It isn'tsuch a scrawl! Oh, Amy, I' it”
”You have?”
”Yes That--that is what has been bothering me of late You may have noticed--”
”I've noticed that you haven't quite been yourself, Amy, my dear, but I never suspected--and you think Alice sent this?”